"As a matter of fact, this projection has the Braves missing the playoffs altogether by one game, as this would have the Mets facing the Brewers and the Cubs facing the Padres in the Wild Card round with the Dodgers and Phillies getting the bye. USA Today doesn't figure that the Dodgers are going to just run away with things but they do figure that they'll still be clear of the rest of the pack in not just the NL but the rest of the pack as well."
"GM Alex Anthopoulos generally doesn't get stuck in the middle, but they're light on starting pitching and will be missing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim for a minute. While it is true that the Braves have some question marks with their starting pitching and will also be missing Ha-Seong Kim, I do feel like the Braves have fortified their squad a bit over the course of the offseason to be able to withstand those issues."
Projection models such as FanGraphs and PECOTA assign high expectations to the Atlanta Braves for 2026. A five-person USA Today panel predicts the Phillies will win the NL East, with the Braves and Mets fighting for second and the Braves ultimately missing the playoffs by one game. That projection places the Mets vs. Brewers and Cubs vs. Padres in the Wild Card round, while the Dodgers and Phillies receive first-round byes. The panel cites limited starting pitching depth and an expected absence of shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as factors. Offseason additions have strengthened the roster, but injuries — including Spencer Schwellenbach’s extended absence — complicate rotation stability.
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